2019 Stanley Cup playoffs
 

NHL playoffs start April 9th. My pick this year are Nashville Predators :) What say you ??

I say the Preds just got spanked good by Columbus.

I don't make predictions, I'm like The Cooler....you don't want me touching your team. Or mine.

I like trying to figure out the sleepers. Always have em. In the west st.louis or Dallas. Pitts not a favourite being in 6th and Columbus who barely gets in. Whole new brand of hockey come playoffs. Can’t wait to see some playoff hockey where they actually play to win :sHa_shakeshout:

St Louis could definitely be a handful.

Been a long time since President's Trophy winners won it all but Tampa gets my vote. Hope the local boys win a couple rounds, show well, & win it all next year!

Stampeders got Grey...Flames get Stanley!

I can’t stand Alberta hockey teams. But I wouldn’t bet against the flames. They have a very deep d core. Their forwards are great too. Neal will be a factor. Can’t see the lighting fall though. They are incredible. The Leafs are done. Fading fast.

Bruins

TBay all the way.

Hate to say it , but Tampa looks just too strong. Dark horse , maybe Vegas again..

I’d really like to see Vegas win the cup, I know it’s not a Canadian team but one can’t cheer for Calgary. Goes against everything I live for.

I'm going to say Tampa Bay...

Flames or Leafs.

Yea, to bad the Ducks didn't make it hey! :sHa_sarcasticlol:

Pens vs Knights


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1A=Canucks.....

1B=Knights.....


Other than that I will be fishing ....

IM a jets fan ,but Tampa looks dam good.

How about a 2004 replay?

Tampa Bay. Their goaltending is too good, their offense is crazy, and their defense is above average. I think Tampa's hardest round will be the 1st round because the only thing that is going to beat them is an extremely hot goalie and Price or Bobrovsky could fit that bill.

The big question. Can smith or rittich get hot for long enough to win 4 series. Time will tell. As stated, hot goalies steal games. This is usually how dark horse teams go deep.

allot of these top teams will be dependant how healthy they can stay in big tough series and can more then role 1-2 lines that contribute. gonna be fun.

You’d be nuts to rule out Tampa.
Could be the best all around, most dominant team we’ve seen in awhile.
They need to figure out how to carry their dominance on into the playoffs.

Tampa -Vegas final is what I’m betting on.

From the armchair:

Three weeks ago, it looked to be Tampa's cup to lose but they've hiccuped a bit lately. This is one of those years that any team (well, maybe not NYI) could find themselves in the final, outside of the wildcard teams. The only WC team in there that looks like they could advance a round might be Dallas.

I'm thinking that the teams with 4 solid lines vs. 2 or 3 great lines may be a factor in lasting all the way to the finals (provided they can get past the first 2 rounds). The teams that can keep time-on-ice spread out relatively evenly and keep their star forwards under 17-18 minutes have a decent shot at winning the playoff marathon. To me those teams look to be: Toronto, Tampa, and St. Louis (the Blues have the #1 rated 4th line in the league), with Calgary, Vegas and Boston close seconds.

The other metric to overlay is depth of starting and backup goal tending (but a clear distinction between starter and back-up). And the front runners I'd pick are Boston, Tampa and Nashville (in that order). The teams with fickle starting/backup tenders or too reliant on one goalie (Calgary, Vegas, and San Jose) could find themselves struggling.

So by that logic: Tampa and Nashville in the final - Tampa wins in 6!

I believe this is where Flames have some advantage....Everyone looks pretty healthy going in, maybe Bennett is exception. But they have depth all the way through the team, scoring from all four lines, 3 strong D pairings....and if someone gets hurt, look who is still in Stockton to come up? Kylington, Valimaki, Prout in the back end, Lazar in a pinch for the front end, Dube Foo Peluso (he actually looked ok the couple times he was up this year) Lomberg as well....not saying you want to have to bring these guys up for the playoffs, but they could in a pinch, and having already had some ice time and appearances in the regular season, they were able to contribute.

But the goal tending....as they say in Quebec....merde. That is my main concern. Fingers crossed on that one.

Flames Tampa final to settle the old 2004 deal where the Flames were robbed in game 6? Wouldn't that be something.

I don't think Vegas goes deep.

its going to be someone from the west. Tough to make it out of the east without being damaged to some extent. Only takes 90 points to clinch a playoff spot in the west.

On one hand, I'd probably sooner stop watching hockey than watch the Leafs win a cup. Not because I particularly care about the Leafs, but the fans would just be so insufferable it wouldn't be worth it.

I do hope the Flames make it at least one series though. My girlfriend is moving to a condo in downtown Calgary in early April. I'm excited to go partake in some Red Mile shenanigans in mid-late April. Bet it'd be a helluva lot of fun.

Leafs of course !!!

Second choice from west will be flames

You make it sound SO EASY to get 90 points, signed Edmonton Oiler fan :sHa_sarcasticlol:

Don't let the bad man make you feel bad, everybody gets a participation ribbon....

I hope you have a FANTASTIC trip to Australia and forget your key board at home :sHa_sarcasticlol:

Thanks Randy. Getting International roaming though.....:)